Basketball: Kings must punish Knights

Published on 15/02/2013 12:00

Stirling KNIGHTS could well be nicknamed the “King-makers” after their shock 67-66 home victory over unbeaten arch rivals Falkirk Fury at the Peak Sports Centre last Friday night which boosted Edinburgh Kings’ hopes of winning the Scottish League title.

The result means that, if both teams win all their other games, the in-form Kings wouldn’t now have to win by a by at least a 24-point margin when they face Fury – instead any win would be enough to claim the championship.

Knights are at home to Kings at the Peak tonight (8pm) but understandably the Stirling side are being a little coy about their prospects of repeating last weekend’s exploits. “Our aim is exactly the same as last week,” said coach Peter Duncan, whose brother Mark scored the match-winning three-pointer on the buzzer against Fury. “We want to compete and keep the deficit low and the performance high.”

Fury, who threw away a 14-point lead last week, could be vulnerable in tonight’s away game to Troon if they are as slack as they were at Stirling.

The Tornadoes are keen to consolidate third place in the table, especially as Glasgow University, just below them on points difference, should beat third-bottom Dunfermline Reign at home.

Boroughmuir Blaze were no match for the students at home last week but should get back on the victory trail by taking care of struggling Glasgow Rocks in Glasgow. Rocks suffered a pair of heavy defeats last weekend – 121-57 against Kings and 112-55 at the hands of St Mirren.